The 23 richest billionaire NHL franchise owners — and how they made their fortune

And that is certainly true when it comes to the NHL, where the wealthiest 23 men and women have a combined fortune of $89.92 billion.

Using data from Forbes, Canadian Business, The Richest, and NHL salary information previously published on Business Insider, we have put together this list of the 23 richest billionaire NHL franchise owners in the United States and Canada.

19: Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk — $1.15 billion

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Eugene Melnyk has worked in medical publishing and the pharmaceutical industry.

He founded Biovail Corporation in 1989. He left three years before its merger with multinational pharmaceutical giant Valeant, in 2010. In the same year Melnyk made $157.6 million when he sold the vast majority of his Biovail stock.

He is the sole owner of the Ottawa Senators.

Stanley Cups won during Melny's tenure: Zero.

Highest-paid player: Senators left wing Bobby Ryan is paid $7.3 million a year.

=18: New York Rangers owner James Dolan — $1.5 billion

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James L. Dolan is a prominent businessman in New York.

He serves as the Executive Chairman of regional cable, satellite, and radio firm MSG Networks, and The Madison Square Garden Company, which owns five sports franchises, three sports venues, and an eSports organisation.

10: Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold — $3.6 billion

Though a billionaire in his own right, he is married to Helen Johnson-Leipold, who is an heir to family-owned SC Johnson, the cleaning products company. The company has an estimated $10 billion in sales.

Stanley Cups won during Leipold's tenure: Zero.

Highest-paid player: Wild left wing Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter are both paid $9 million a year.

8: Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi — $3.92 billion

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Tom Gaglardi presides over Northland Properties Corporation, a hotel and restaurants firm, which is owned by the Gaglardi family.

The portfolio includes assets in Canada, the US, and Scotland. The net worth listed is cited as the combined father and son team of Bob and Tom, but it is Tom Gaglardi who has seemingly taken over the reins of the family operation.

7: Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz — $4.2 billion

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Wine distribution and real estate runs through the blood of the Wirtz family — and Rocky Wirtz is no different.

Rocky Wirtz is president of the Wirtz Corporation, a firm that dates back to 1922, and oversees commercial and residential real estate companies. In addition to owning and chairing the Chicago Blackhawks, Wirtz owns half of the NHL franchise's home arena, the 20,000 capacity United Center.

Stanley Cups won during the Wirtz family's tenure: Four — 1961, 2010, 2013, and 2015.

Highest-paid player: Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews both struck identical 8-year, $84 million deals four years ago and earn around $13,800,000 per year.

4: Detroit Red Wings owners the Ilitch family — $5.3 billion

Detroit Red Wings.
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Mike Ilitch Sr. was the American entrepreneur who founded and owned Little Caesars, the third-largest pizza chain in the US (behind Pizza Hut and Domino's).

He owned NHL franchise Detroit Red Wings and Major League Baseball side Detroit Tigers. When he died in 2017 he passed all his companies to his estate, through Ilitch Holdings, which is run by Marian Ilitch and Christopher Ilitch.

Stanley Cups won during the Ilitch family's tenure: Four — 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008.

1: LA Kings owner Philip Anschutz — $13.1 billion

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American entrepreneur Philip Anschutz accumulated his wealth in a variety of industries including oil, railroads, telecom, real estate, and entertainment.

When it comes to sports, there is not much the 78-year-old hasn't had a hand in. He co-founded Major League Soccer (and a number of MLS teams), has a stake in the LA Lakers, and is the billionaire owner of the LA Kings.